The BreadBot mixes, forms, proofs, bakes and cools 10 loaves of bread per hour – all on its own and is capable of making most varieties of bread that require dry ingredients – including white, wheat, whole wheat, nine grain, sourdough and honey oat.

The Washington-based, family-owned Wilkinson Baking Company is hoping its high-tech BreadBot — the result of more than 20 years of research and development and more than 30 cumulative months of in-store market-testing experience — will help lure food shoppers back to the store.

“Bread is a staple of American life. But in most supermarkets today, it has lost its emotional connection with the shopper,” said Randall Wilkinson, CEO of The Wilkinson Baking Company. “In the age of home delivery, The BreadBot attracts consumers back to the store because it delivers fresh, delicious bread that is produced with theater and engagement.”

The company is focusing n transparency — as the BreadBot allows customers to know exactly where, when, and how, their bread was made.

The BreadBot constantly monitors all measurements, from water temperature and mixer speed, to the proofer humidity and loaf height, according to the company. Once dry mix is added to the hopper the process is fully automated. The BreadBot sends a message to an employee when the hopper is ready to be filled with more mix or bread needs to be emptied from the cooling cabinet.

It will also ask for help throughout the day, sending messages such as “Please empty the cabinet of bread”, “I need more mix”, or “I’m finished baking today.” The company says this allows the bakery staff to spend on average only 40 minutes a day pouring mix and slicing bread.